The Pros and Cons of Faux Wood Blinds

Wood blinds and shutters are some of the most popular inexpensive window treatments sold in the United States. Popular though they may be, there’s always a limit to exactly how much money people are willing to spend on their blinds. These products (natural wood blinds and shutters) can be rather expensive, depending on your budget. Furthermore, natural materials can be undesirable in certain high moisture climes where the humidity can adversely affect the finish or integrity, or in rooms susceptible to damage by kids and pets.

Recently, almost every manufacturer of blinds, shades and window treatments have begun to provide high quality modern synthetic alternatives to the traditional 2” wooden blinds at cheap, discount prices. While the general aesthetic of faux wood blinds is similar to that of a custom wood shade or blind, there are substantial differences between then. Generally called Faux Wood Blinds, Alternative Woods, Wood-like, Polywood, Doverwood and a host of other names, these blinds are constructed of vinyl and/or vinyl compounds, including some which are made of a combination of wood and vinyl, making a wood/vinyl alloy like hybrid material. Since all of these products use vinyl for the majority of their construction, they have two inherent advantages over traditional wood shades: they cost less and they resist moisture.

There are some perceived disadvantages to some buyers. Many people still prefer the warmth of real wood and if it is within their budget, it is usually the preferred choice. At present, the choices of colors available in natural wood blinds is greater than with faux wood mini blinds. There are also certain size constraints. Regarding durability, the synthetic shades are aren’t as rigid as natural wood, yet they are heavier in overall weight.

Beware of the poor quality “foam” blinds, most often found in home Improvement centers and in some retail locations usually under a “private label brand”. These blinds are especially flimsy, regularly sag and require numerous support strings (often called “ladders”) not only because of their flimsiness, but also because they are overweight given their size. Since most are made with extremely poor quality head rails and inferior components, their longevity can be very limited. We strongly suggest you stay away from these foam products.